Jonathan Lis and Natasha Mozgovaya (Haaretz)

Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard was taken Monday to the hospital for an urgent operation, suggesting a further deterioration in his health.

Pollard has been suffering lately from many medical complications in his gallbladder and kidneys. He was supposed to undergo surgery last week, but it was postponed due to a visit by Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren.

Former United States president Bill Clinton on Tuesday told the media that the Russian immigrant population in Israel is an obstacle to peace with Palestinians, sparking a furious response from Israel’s main immigrant party, Yisrael Beiteinu.